Tone-control device for talking-machines



UNITED s'rATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. DAvIs, or BnoNxvILLE, AND' rnEDnIox n. goes, or' BnooxnYN, 'NEW Yonx, AssIGNons 'ro Lnxrornonn cononArIoN, A conroaA'rIoN or nnnnwnnn TONE-CONTROL DEVICE FOR TALKING-MACHINES,

` specification o'f Letters Patent. Patnted Sept. 16, .1919.

Application med may 9, 1918. :serial No. 288,488.

New York, an borou'gh of 'Brooklym l'county of Kings, city and State of New' York, have invented, certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Control Devices for Talking-Machines, and we do hereby de-\ clare the following to be'a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the 'art to which it appertains -to make `and use the same.

This invention relates to tone-control devices for talking machines, and in particular for talking machines of the so-called Hopkins-type, wherein the vbrations of the stylus are .transmitted by a connecting device to a conical diaphragm of large area, the connecting device comprising a rod or analogous element and a Stylus holder. Thediaphragm referred to isl freely exposed to unconfined air and is so constru'ctedf and arranged as to take the placeof the usual sound-'box and of its associatedv horn or similar amplifier.

In instruments of the character stated, the diaphragm is carried by `a supporting bar'which is mounted to swing across the record and is provided with a bore that extends from end to end thereof; said ybore receiving the vibration transmission connection, the rod' element of lwhich is joined at its rear end to the apex of the'diaphragm and at its front end to the stylus holder, the latter'being fulcrumed on the front end of the aforesaid bar and disposed partly within the same. It follows, therefore, that the Stylus, in traveling along a phonic line, will impart to the diaphragm vibrations cor-l responding to those recorded-in-said line, so that the intensity of the vibratlons of the diaphragm is dependent upon that of the vibrations lpassing through or set-up in the transmission connection. Consequently, if some means be provided whereby the 'vi'brations of the transmission connection can be damped, the vibrations of the dlaphragm, and, hence, the tone of the mstrument will be correspondingly aflected and W111 be dlminished or mcreased according as the H. Davis damping action exerted upon the transmisslon connection is increased'or decreased..

The present invention aims, therefore, to provide an effective means or device for acting upon the transmission connection in the manner indicated, such action being obtained, according to the illustrated embodimentof the invention; through the agency of a grippmg element which is disposed in pos1tion=to exert a progressive binding or' wed ing action on'the aforesaid connection when shifted inzone direction, the operation of this element being 'efl'ected by means of a device which is rotatfbly'mounted upon the/support. 4

, The accom'panying` drawing represents one form which the invention ma take in practice; but it is to be understoo that no limitation to the precise structural details thereof is intendedfnor to be imposed, since modifications of and4 changes in such disclosure may obviously bel made without departing from'the scope of the invention as subsequently claimed. A In said drawing:

,Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional yview showing the application of the invention to the'supporting` bar of Hopkin's-type machine;

Fig. 2 isl a horizontal section taken on line 2-2, of Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are transverse Vertical sections taken, respectively, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2'1a11d line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5V is a view similar to'Fig. 4 but position; an I Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, a erspec- 'tive view and a'rear elevation of 't e gripping element.

Referring more particularly to themechanism illustrated in .the aforesaid drawing, 10 indicates generally a swinging support or bar which is mounted to move across the record or its equivalent, and is proshowln the ip' ing element in a difler'ent. g, der P vided with a bore 11 that extends through it from end to end.. The bore 11 receives the transmission rod 12which, as -previously stated, forms one element of the transmission connection, the latter also com-prising the stylus `holder 1,3. The rod 12, as usual in Hopkins machines, projects. beyondwtlme ends of the 'bore 11 and is connected at its rear end to' the apex of the conical diaphragm, (not shown), and at its front end to the stylus holder `13, the said holder `'being connected in turn, withthe front `end of the bar through the intermediary of a y leaf spring 14. None o f these features forms any part of the present. 'inventiom however, and for that reason extended 1llustration and description thereof are omitted,` -it being deemed s'uflicient to state that the leaf sprin 14 provides a resilient mounting for thesty us holder and that the vibrations of the stylus carried by the holder are transmittedfrom the holder through the rod 12 'to the apex of the diaphragm in a manner` to move the entire conical portion of the'lat- ,ter bodily. The leaf spring may be mount- `ed in the, rod in any preferably capable of p adjustment for, the .Purpose of varying the effective length of its deslred Way, but is exposed end-that is, the portion of the spring between the bar end and the stylus holder. L

The tone control device is carried by the supporting bar 10, fand, in the construction -illustrated, is disposed withinl a Chamber' 15. into which the front end of the bore 11 of the bar opens, this 'chamberbeing constituted by the forward portionof a hollow cylindrical cap or sleeve 16 that is fitted on and extends beyond the bar end, as represented in Figs. 1 and 2. lA portion of the Stylus holder 13 is also disposed within the ,saidchamber, but the part thereof' which actually carries 'the stylus projects out-` "wardly through an opening 17 in thezcap.

The said tone control device preferably coni cap, so that w en the ring is turned in one direction or the other, the sector-shaped the Jaws 19 of said member.

sists, of a sector-shaped member' 18, which is cut' away centrally from end to end' to form a pair of converging jaws 19, located opposite and in spaced relation to each other, and which is provided upon its back with .a central, longitudinal rib 20. This rib .is .slidably fi'tted in a circumferential slot 21 formed through cap 16, and is suitably fastened to 'a rin 22 that loosely encircles said member 18 'will be shifted endwise correspondingly.

Thefaforesaid member 18 is engageable :of the transmission rod 12, When the en'- gagement between the holder and the member 18 takes place, the inner sides of the jaws are lined or'faced with strips' 27 of felt or other material capable of exerting holder which graduall the required damping action. The space or ;channel between the jaws 19 is, however,

wedge-shaped, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 7, due to the convergence of said jaws, the wide end of such spa'ce being disposed opposite the extension to f'acilitate the entrance of the extension end thereinto` as Will be understood. For that reason, the pressure 'exerted by the jaws of the member 18 vupon the'extension will increase as the said member movestfrom its wide end to- Ward its narrow end, and will decrease when movement in the opposite direction occurs. In other Words, the member 18 will exert a gripping or binding action upon the Stylus increases or progresses 'as the said mein er movesv from its disengaged position, vshown in Fig. 5, to'the position shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but will be decreased if the dlrection of movement be reversed. Hen'ce, it follows that ,the

tained, of course, when 'the extension reaches the narrow end of the channel or passage between the gripping jaws; and,

conversely, the vibrations-will reach 4their normal intensity when the gripping member and extension are disengaged, at which time the'tone of the instrument will be loudest.

We claim: 1. The combination, With a tubular support, and a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; of a single Shiftable gripping member within said' support for damping the 'vibrations of said Itransmission connection with increasing force; :nd Operating means for said gripping mem- 2. The combination, with a tubular support, and a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; ,of an endwisemovable gripping member within said support for damping the vibratio'ns of said transmission connection with increasing force; and operatingsmeans for said gripping member.

3,. The combination, with a tubular support, Vand a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; of a single shiftable gripping member' within said support for damping the vibrations of said ltransmission connection with increasing force,l

anda device rotatably mounted on said support and connected to shift said gripping member.

4. Thecombination, with a tubular sup'- `port, and a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; of 'a single shiftable gripping member within said support for damping'the vibrations of said transmission connection with increasing force; and a ring encircling Said support and'movable around the same, said ringbeing connected to Shift said gripping member.

5. The combination, With a tubular support, and. a vibrationstransmission connection disposed therewithin; of a shiftable member within said support embodying a pair of converging jaws arranged to exert a progressive damping action on said transmission connection from opposite sides thereof; and means for shifting said gripping member.

6. The combination, With atubular support, and a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; of a shiftable gripping member within said support embodying a pair of converging jaws arranged to exert a progressive damping action on said transmission connection from opposite sides thereof and a device rotatably mounted on the exterior of said support and connected to shift said gripping member.

7. The combination, with a tubular support, and a vibration transmission connection disposed therewithin; of a shiftable,

sector-shaped member within said support` engageable with said transmission connection betweenits opposite sides; and means for shifting said member to cause it to exert a progressive gripping' action on said transmission connection, thereby to progressively damp the vibrations of thel latter.

8. The combination, with a support, and a Vibration transmission connection carried thereby and including a stylus holder; of a shiftable member carried by said support for gripping said Stylus` holder with increasing force to damp its Vibrations; and Operating means for said .gripping' member.

9. The combination, With a support, and a vibrationtransmission connection carried thereby and including a *stylus holder; of'a shiftable member carried by said support for gripping said stylus holder With increasing force'to damp itsvibrations; and a device rotatably mounted on said support to adjust said gripping Inemben- 10. The combination, with a support, and a vibration transmission connection carried thereby and including a Stylus holder; of a' single gripping membercarried by said sup.- port and provided with a pair of c'onverging i ja-Ws arranged to engage said transmission connection from opposite sides thereof; and means for yshifting said gripping memberto cause its jaws tov exert a progressive binding action on said 'transmission connection to` damp its vibrations' .O

11. Thec'ombination, with a support, and

a vibration transmission connection carried thereby and' including a stylus' holder; of a single grippi'ng member' carried by said support and provided With a pair of converging 1avvs arrangedjto engage said transmission vibrations of said holder; and Operating' means for said shiftable member.

13. The combination, with .a support, and a vibration transmission connectioncarried thereby and including a Stylus holder; of a single gripping member carried by said support and provided with a pair of convero'ing jaws arranged to engage said stylus hoxlder from opposite sides thereof; and means for shifting said gripping member to cause its jaws to exert a progressive wedging action on said stylus holder to damp its vibrations. 14. The combination, with a support, and a vibration transmission connection carried thereby and comprising a stylus holder having an extension and a rod connected at one end to said extension; of a shiftable gripposite sides thereof; vand means for shiftin'gf said gripping member ,to"'cause its jaws to exert a progressive wedgi'ng action` on said extension to damp'the vibrations of the Stylus holder.

16. The combination, with. a tubular support, and a vibration .transmissionconnection disposed therewithin and comprising a sty'lus holder having-'an extension anda rod connected at one end.`to`said extension; of

a shiftable gripping member within said support arranged to engage said extension' with increasing force to Vdamp the vibrations of the stylus holder; and- Operating means for said gripping member.

' 17 The combination, with a tubular support, and a vibration'transmission conneci etion disposed therewithinvand comprising a Stylus holder having an extension and a rod connected at one end, to said extension; of

a shiftable v-grippi'ng member within said support arranged to engage said extension with increasing force to damp the vibrations 180 f of the stlus'holder; and means rotatably mounted on said support and connected to operate said gripping member.

18'. The comblnation, with a tubular sup` port, and a Vibrationwransmission connec' tion disposed therewithin and comprising a stylusholder having an extension and a rod connected at one end to said' extension; o'f a 'Shiftable gripping 'member within said Wit eincreasing force to'damp thevibrav `tions of 'the Stylus holder; and anV annular' member rotatably mountedon saidl support and 'connected to operate said grppmg member.

FREDRIOK E. Jose. 

